Demountable scaffold



NOV. 20, 1956 j DE 2,771,324

DEMOUNTABLE SCAFFOLD Filed Feb. 26, 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.REGINALD D. RYDER ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1956 R. D. RYDER 2,771,324

DEMOUNTABLE SCAFFOLD Filed Feb. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 REGINALD o g 3(Li 0. shmM ATTOR N EY United States Patent'O -2;771,324DEMOUNTABLESC-AEFOLD meg in'a'ld DfiRyder, Brailner, Ohio, 'assignor to"Sun 70H C'Ompany, Philadelphia, "Pa., a corporation of New JerseyApplication February. 26,1954, Serial No. 412,970 }4 Claims. ((35304 2)-be-,quickly erected and dismantled with =minimurn labor.

-=It iis a turtlrer-objectof the winvention to provide a scaffold; ofsmall sections capable of being erected in a limited space a whichbecause of the unique iarrangement of -the sections; provides a strong,sturdy structure.

Yet another object is to provide a scaffold of sturdy structure,sufliciently rigid to meet all working requirements in litnited space,yt 'sutficientlybpen "in framework to permit workingease within"andaround the scaffold with a minimum of climbing .overa parts of'thestructure.

iStill'another object is to provide -a tscaifoldof tubular rmemberswi-tha reinforced corner joint of suflicientrstability toe'liminate crossmembenreiriforcing.

various other objects and advantages of this :invention will more .fullyappear during the course of the following specification and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One form of the invention in the assembled form, with details of theseveral elements, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled scaffold in elevation;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a vertical corner joint;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the base assembly at a corner.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the corner post, top rail assembly.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of an alternate form of corner postassembly.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail in elevation of the corner post assemblyof Figure 5 in closed position.

Referring to Figure. 1 it will be seen that the seaflold is composed ofa limited number of different shapes. Individually the shapes arelimited in size and configuration to approach tubular structural limits.This requires minimum openings for the passage of the separate elementsand permits ease of assembly in limited space. The sequence of assemblyis easily understood, aiding construction in confined quarters, and,once assembled as shown, presents a rigid support for workmen.

In this figure, the corner posts 10 are one of the members duplicatedthroughout the structure. These elements, of equal length and diametermeasurements, space the corner connecting members at equal elevations.

The corner connectors include tubular members 12, and 21 with hubs oneach end. These connectors, forming ledgers in that they are laid.horizontally,-.aremade withtwo .diiferent sized l-hubs. {Theitubulanmern ber-s Y12 and 21 connect either Yhubs 14 ofsmaller size,or.-hubs 16 of larger size,-respectively.

.F'gure 2 illustrates thewuse, of these different ledger members inassembling :acorner. Themember with-the smaller hubs 14 islequalindiametersgexternal and -inter4 nal, to the corner .postslO. .A pinmember .18 "-istfitted into the -hub 14-having an externalrdiameterequal to the internal hub and corner post diameter. Pin i I-Smay-be'either permanently attached to hub 14,.m'aking a complete cornerreinforcing member, or maybe placedias each corner is assembled .wherethe limitations of space require. This :figure' also includes the largerhub 16 which has an internal diameter equal to therexternal (diameter ofthe corner post 10. Such relative diameter- 'sizes per- -mit the'corner;post .10 to'embracethe pin Hand .in turn be enclosed; in the hub 16. Itis evidentthat a rigid corner construction. is .therresult.

5 As .a .matter. of protection for those "who use :the 2 struc- "ture, atop railing assembly is added. *Without {this safety section, ,thestructure consistssimply iof three different elements,.four it-pin 18 ds-counted; separately. This addition requires modified orncapping cornerpos-ts 11, .-same .diameter as posts lfl, with. .the upper endv closedto .*hold ithetstud-rl 3. Tubular: .rnembers 1:19, lvfiattenednon .theends and-dril1edtoitfit oversthe-istud .13,. are the top railsibeingheld by -wing-nuts.-1 7.

The capping corner, posts-tl l, ta s iin'dicated iab'ove are ipartiallyinterchangeable with tcorner. posts -10; gpartially iinterchangeablebecause they are limited ttoclosing'ithe top ofi the scaffold; yetcan-.be used (over the pin '18 s and .in 'theihubs .16t-as indicated-innEigure 5. In tthis-tfigure showing-=21 variationwofit the structureialready described, the capping corner post 11 has been substitutedafOl' corner post 10 showing a top corner joint instead ofaanintermediate tcornerijoint as shown .in Figurez.

In Figures .5 and'i6, i to increase the rigidity and "stability .of thestructure beyond that 'indicatedtin Figures =1,'. 2 and 4; :presentlydescribed, 'hub114 iis increased inwthicle mess .until .its externaldiameter: equals 1 the: external idiameter of hub 16, yet retains theinternal diameter of pin 18. This thicker hub is denoted by the numeral15 connected by tubular member 23 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Thesectional view of this corner joint in the closed position illustratedin Figure 6 shows the completed connection. The assembly is made asalready described in discussing Figure 2. By reason of the increasedthickness of hub 15 (over original thickness of hub 14, Figure 2) thebearing surfaces between the elements is increased as they are connectedin fixed alignment.

The one remaining figure of the drawing yet to be described, Figure 3,will be better understood if it is described in the discussion of theoperation of the device. If Figure 1 is considered together with Figure3, it will be apparent that this scaifold rests on a. base built ofthese elements. A square is formed of four ledger members with thelarger hubs 16. As corner posts 10 insert in these hubs, the double hubdepth on all four corners supports the initially erected corner posts inthe vertical position.

Ledger members of the smaller dimensioned hubs 14 are then placed toengage opposite pairs of corner posts 10. These ledgers are held inplace and abutting the ends of corner posts 10 by means of pin 18. Onthe upwardly projecting portion of the pin 18, and arranged 3 l ledgeris maintained as each corner post is separated only by the uniformlength of hub 14'.

This structure procedure is continued, using either the hub 14 member orthe variation hub 15 until the top is reached when eappingcorner posts'11 are substituted for corner post 10 and the top rails 19 are fastenedinto place. The choice of hub 14 or 15 is not one of con structiondifference as both are erected the same. Each type has its advantage oflighter weight or increased rigidity and both will serve equally.

By reversing the operation, the scaffold can be as easily disassembled.The simplicity of the elements reduces maintenance and requires no toolsfor handling. Assembly and disassembly can be accomplished in a minimumof space with a minimum of work. The number of elements ofdifferentshapes is reduced to a minimum, and an open scafiold permittingcomparatively free movement in restricted space yet of sturdy, usableconstruction is provided.

What is claimed is:

l. A scaffold of successive tiers comprising a base tier ofinterchangeable corner posts, first type ledger members with hub ends ofan internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the corner postspositioned to receive and hold said corner posts in the hubs; andadditional tiers including a pair of second type ledger members with hubends of an internal diameter equal to the internal diameter of thecorner posts placed on top of opposed pairs of corner posts, pin membersextending through the hub ends extending above and below the sameholding the corner posts below and positioned to receive corner postsabove said hubs, and a pair of ledger members with hub ends of internaldiameter equal to the external diameter of the corner posts connectingcorners unconnected by said first pair of ledger members and transversethereto, andcorner posts inserted in said pair of first type ledgermember hubs to embrace the pin members positioned by the pair of secondtype ledger members reinforcing the corners of successive tiers of thescaffold. Y

2. The scaffold as defined in claim 2 further characterized by thehighest tier being modified to include capping eorner posts adapted tofit into the hubs of the pair of first type ledger members to embracethe upw rdly p j g p from he hubs of h pair of s c type ledger members,each of said capping corner posts being closed at' the top by a studprojection, top rails apertured .to fit over said stud projections, andfastening means to engage the studs and hold the top rails in position.

3. A scaffold comprising a plurality of sets of four transverselyextending tubes extending in different horizontal planes, the lower setcomprising four tubes each having end hubs, a plurality of sets ofvertically extending tubular posts, the lower ends of the lower set ofposts extending into the end hubs of the lower set of tubes; two opposedtubes of an upper set having end hubs of smaller diameter than those ofthe lower set and having pins adapted to extend into the upper ends ofthe posts of the lower set and into the lower ends of the upper set ofposts, the other two members of the upper set comprising tubes with endhubs into which extend the lower ends of an upper set of posts; and fourtransversely extending reinforcing members secured to the upper ends-ofthe uppermost set of posts.

4. Coupling means having, in combination, vertical tubular corner postsof a demountable scaffold, a first type ledger member with hub end, saidhub having internal and external diameters equal to like diameters ofthe tubular corner posts, a pin member of an external diameter equal tothe tubular corner post internal diameter extending through the hub endof the first type ledger member and engaging with said corner posts, anda second type ledger member having hub end of an internal diameter equalto both the external diameter of the tubular corner posts and'the hub ofthe first type ledger member, the hub of the second type ledger memberresting on said firs-t type ledger member and engaging the hub .thereofand the pin engaged corner post in said hub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS742,755 Uffelman Oct. 27, 1903 832,625 Ryan Oct. 9, 1906 963,030 BalehJuly 5, 1910 1,273,143 Bryan July 23, 1918 2,043,498 Wecker June 9, 19362,361,614 Dugan Oct. 31, 1944 2,462,429 Sachs Feb. 22, 1949

